In order to keep this place un-hacked, we moderate all new members, meaning, new posts will remain in queue until we are able to actually do an eyes on validation. It's a bit of a PITA for everyone involved, please bear with us, it's one of the things that keep this place uniquely peaceful!

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

3D printing Merlin parts

...The build progressed beyond a simple aviation MRO solution into true research: how well did the original exhaust stack flow? Could the laser sintered part perform better? What about the effect of surface finish on flow? Would the elimination of 34 inches of weld seam affect performance?.......

.....According to Chu, “We reverse engineered the existing product, so that's the exact same geometry that it had for the past 70 years. The next step is to do analysis on the existing component’s geometry, stresses, thermal gradients, and also the gas flow dynamics and work from there. Is there a way for improvement or optimization for the current manufacturing techniques? We can definitely cut a lot of weight out of this, and we can increase performance and reduce thermal stress by changing some of the geometry. That’s the next project we can work on.”.....

This is great news for warbirds and the racing applications are unlimited.